Lord Janner says 'oooh this is wonderful' as he finally appears in court on abuse charges

Lord Janner appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court this afternoon to face 22 charges of historic child sex abuse, in a hearing lasting less than one minute.

The 87-year-old, who suffers from dementia, was originally due before magistrates at 9.45am, but did not show despite a High Court ruling saying he must attend.

The peer's attendance at court comes after numerous attempts by his defence lawyers - three court hearings over a week - to avoid him turning up.

Dressed in a soiled bottle green cardigan, blue t-shirt and navy trousers, and using a walking stick he entered the courtroom saying: "Oooh, this is wonderful."

He sat at a desk near the entrance used for vulnerable witnesses and looked around the room before being asked if he was Lord Janner, to which he replied: "Yes."

He was released on unconditional bail with the next hearing to be held at Southwark Crown Court on September 1.

The peer, who was in court for 59 seconds, was escorted into the courtroom by a minder and woman believed to be his daughter.

Calling him "daddy", she said: "We're going to go home and have an ice cream."

All three of them then left the courtroom through the internal exit, avoiding the public section of the building.

Janner was forced to attend the hearing after two senior judges ruled that an appearance by the 87-year-old former Labour peer and MP must take place because of "the obvious and strong public interest in ensuring those summoned to court attend when required".

Lawyers acting for the 87-year-old former Labour peer and MP had argued that he should be allowed to appear on camera from his “place of residence”.

Paul Ozin, appearing for the peer, told Westminster magistrates court: “We say that this is entirely consistent with the principles of justice.”

He also argued for a second option that the peer, who is suffering from severe dementia, should appear via video link from another room in the court.

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He added: "It is barbaric, inhuman and uncivilised to expose a very vulnerable person to the experience I have alluded to, particularly when it is wholly unnecessary and serves no logical purpose."

Louise Oakley, prosecuting, said their position was that the former MP should attend in person but one option was that he could be allowed to appear at Wood Green crown court which was closer to his home.

But judges had said the public interest outweighed any personal distress Janner might be caused and he arrived at the central London court at about 1.30pm.

Janner is facing 22 child abuse charges spanning a period from the 1960s to the 1980s. They relate to alleged attacks on young boys at a children’s home in the Leicester constituency where he was an MP.

The court adjourned this morning to consider the options before deciding shortly before midday that Janner should appear in person.

Janner was suspended from the Labour party in April but remains a life peer. Earlier this year, Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders decided not to bring charges against him on grounds of his health, but following an appeal the decision was overturned.